When was Daniel cast into the lions' den?
Daniel keeps praying to the God of heaven and is delivered from the lions.
Daniel in the Lions' Den took place c. 539 BC at Babylon (under Medo-Persian rule), during the Exile & Return period of Bible history. The account is recorded in Daniel 6:10 (KJV). Daniel keeps praying to the God of heaven and is delivered from the lions.
"He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." — Daniel 6:10 (KJV)
Plotters tricked Darius into signing a decree against prayer. Daniel opened his windows toward Jerusalem and prayed three times a day as he had always done. Cast into the lions' den, he was found at dawn unhurt, and the king proclaimed the living God.
c. 539 BC
Babylon (under Medo-Persian rule)
Key KJV Scriptures
"He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."
"My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me."
Why It Matters
Daniel models steadfast prayer under hostile law and gives Scripture one of its clearest pictures of personal deliverance by God's angel.
Key People
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Daniel in the lions' den?
Probably in his eighties — he had been taken to Babylon as a youth in 605 BC and the den account falls under Darius the Mede after Babylon's fall in 539 BC.
When did daniel in the lions' den happen?
Daniel in the Lions' Den is dated c. 539 BC, placing it in the Exile & Return era of biblical history. See Daniel 6:10 (KJV).
Where did daniel in the lions' den take place?
Scripture places daniel in the lions' den at Babylon (under Medo-Persian rule).
Who was involved in daniel in the lions' den?
The key figures are Daniel, Darius the Mede.
Where is daniel in the lions' den in the Bible?
You can read about it in Daniel 6:10, Daniel 6:22 (King James Version).
Why does daniel in the lions' den matter?
Daniel models steadfast prayer under hostile law and gives Scripture one of its clearest pictures of personal deliverance by God's angel.
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Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Darius the Mede in the Bible
The King Who Honored Daniel's God
Daniel in the Lions' Den
Daniel 6 • Faithfulness Under Persecution
Daniel in the Lions' Den
God shut the mouths of lions to preserve Daniel for his faithful prayer.
Daniel 6 Quiz — Daniel in the Lions' Den
Daniel's faithfulness lands him among lions, but God delivers him.
Daniel and the Lions' Den Quiz for Kids
The prayer, the den, and the God who shut the lions' mouths.
Daniel 6:9 Commentary
In-depth study • Darius Signs the Decree